The science community is concerned: many established researchers plan to retire in the coming decade and there is a dearth of early and mid-career researchers ready to take their place and contribute in a meaningful way. Unless young scientists are encouraged, trained and mentored in various scientific fields knowledge gaps will occur.

The In-service Aircraft for a Global Observing System (IAGOS) uses commercial passenger aircraft as a platform for the measurement of the composition of the atmosphere. It is one component of the European Research Infrastructure for gathering long-term, routine in-situ observational data on the state of the atmosphere.

Efforts to reduce fuel burn and thus carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emissions in aviation over the past four decades have been impressive. Operational measures in line with new air traffic management systems, as well as new technological concepts, all have the potential to continue reducing these CO 2 emissions. The Commission for Aeronautical Meteorology (CAeM) supports aviation stakeholders in their efforts to operate under changing climate conditions.

WMO welcomed its new Secretary-General, Petteri Taalas, on 1 January. He came to the Organization following a tenure as Director of the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) from 2002 to 2015, which was interrupted from 2005 – 2007 when he served as Director of the WMO Development and Regional Activities Department.

Since 2002, there have been a number of initiatives and accomplishments having a significant impact on the World Weather Watch. Indeed, not since the 1960s has there been so much emphasis and worldwide attention on the knowledge of the environment …

Activities involving transportation are inherently more sensitive to weather events than activities that are located in a single place. Consider an individual contemplating a ten minute walk to his favourite coffee shop: indoors, he is not particularly weather-sensitive but once outdoors, the situation changes substantially.